Hello Siestas!
I’m Adrienne, aka “Fuzzytop”, writing to you from Jasper, Tennessee, a very small town about 25 miles west of Chattanooga. I’m a transplant to the South, having moved here from the Phoenix area in 2005. My family consists of husband, Tom, Rachel (HS Senior), and James (HS Freshman). Along with the humans, our family includes six dogs and eight cats, and of those, only two were acquired deliberately; we have soft hearts for abandoned dogs and cats. We also have six cows, a donkey, and assorted chickens and live on 40 acres in a rural area, which is a huge change from the Phoenix suburbs.
So…..a little bit about myself. I grew up overseas in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. We lived there until I was nine, and then immigrated to the United States, landing in Mesa, Arizona. Culture shock!!! After High School I attended Arizona State University, receiving a BS in Bioengineering and later, a MS in Quality Engineering and Applied Statistics. For many years I worked as an engineer and a project manager at Intel Corporation in AZ. Here in TN, I work in Quality Assurance for an engineering firm in Chattanooga. Work-wise, I seriously love data analysis and statistics. Away from work I enjoy reading, drawing, beading, gardening, and spending time with my family. I also love Bible Studies, and have done every Siesta Summer Bible study with two dear friends, Linda and Sarah, whom I met through this blog.
As a child, I had very little exposure to Jesus and the gospel. In Kuala Lumpur, I attended a Catholic school, and I recall my class practicing for communion using slips of newspaper in place of the wafers. The nuns were very concerned that we not “mess up” our First Holy Communion, so it was a stressful event. I had no idea what it all meant. My parents were not Christians, so as a child we never went to church or read the Bible, but somehow I knew in my heart that God was real. During difficult times in my early years, I remember praying to God, and trusting that those prayers were heard.
During High School, I began attending church and youth group with some close friends, and began identifying myself as “a Christian”, but I know now I had never truly given my heart and my life to Jesus and fully trusted in Him for salvation. My Christianity was nothing but a label. I became disillusioned when I found out those High School friends were no different from the non-Christian “bad” kids I knew. I dropped out of Youth Group and then church for many years.
During college I met my husband. He had been saved during his senior year of High School, and we spent many hours talking about God, and Jesus. After we married, we started attending church. One fateful Sunday I went alone, and during the invitation, I felt an overwhelming conviction that the invitation was for me. Honestly, I was stunned, having thought for many years that I was saved! I didn’t respond to the invitation that day, but all the next week it was on my mind, and I prayed to really know what to do. The following Sunday during the invitation I was again convicted in my heart that I needed to respond and this time, I went forward, prayed for Jesus to forgive me of my sins, and truly accepted him as Savior. Even today, almost 30 years later, I can remember the overwhelming flood of relief and joy.
Of my four siblings, parents, step-parents, in-laws, nieces and nephews, only a few are saved. I count many lost people among my extended family, and I believe it is an imperative that I pray for them. In Romans 10:1 Paul wrote, “Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved,” (emphasis mine). As C.H. Spurgeon once stated in a sermon:
Until the gate of hell is shut upon a man, we must not cease to pray for him. And if we see him hugging the very doorposts of damnation, we must go to the mercy seat and beseech the arm of grace to pluck him from his dangerous position. While there is life there is hope, and although the soul is almost smothered with despair, we must not despair for it, but rather arouse ourselves to awaken the Almighty arm.
There are days when I am frustrated with seemingly unanswered prayers regarding the salvation of people I love. So the Scripture I’m choosing this time is 2 Pet 3:9, “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (NIV), which reminds me that these things are under His control and His timing, and that God desires salvation for every soul. If you have lost loved ones, like me, perhaps this verse will comfort you also.
I am so grateful for this blog, and SSMT. The friends I have met through this blog, the original Siesta Fiesta, and the SSMTC events are so precious to me.
Love in Christ,
Adrienne (Fuzzytop)
Dena Bibb, Stockton, CA
“That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
2 Corinthians 12:10 NIV
Windsor, CO Phil 4:13 ” I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!” NLT
Clancie Speck, Elizabethtown, KY, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13, NIV (1984)
Anita, Miami, FL
The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Psalm 9:9 (NIV)
Kelei Liggett.Iowa Park, Tx.
Hebrews 12:15 NIV
See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.
Lynn Hartselle, Huntsville, AL
For you are great and do marvelous deeds; you alone are God. Psalm 86:10 NIV
“O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.” Psalm 34:8 KJV
Ashley G.
Royal Oak, MI
“Indeed, my plans are not like your plans, and my deeds are not like your deeds, for just as the sky is higher than the earth, so my deeds are superior to your deeds and my plans are superior to your plans.” – Isaiah 55:8-9 NET
Beverly Welch, Dallas, NC
O taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
Ps 34:8 KJV
Deb Dinnen
Springfield, Ohio
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. (Philippians 1:6 ESV)
Pam McFadden, Lubbock,TX
“I am the vine,you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit, apart from Me you can do nothing.” John 15:5 NIV
Debbie, Fort Thomas, KY
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Isaiah 40:29 NIV
Deanna, Montgomery, TX
PS. 77:11 ESV “I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes I will remember your wonders of old.”
Carol, Belleville, ON “Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure.” Ps 16:5 NIV
Lynne
Telford, PA
Consequently, He is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
Heb. 7:25 ESV
Brooke, Montgomery, TX
Revelation 3:7 “These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds they key of David. What he opens no one can shut, what he closes no one can open. NIV
Jen … Fort Worth, TX
Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand. (Psalm 121:4-5 ESV)
James 1:14-15 NIV “But each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.”
Jen – Albany, OR
My purpose in writing is to encourage you and assure you that what you are experiencing is truly part of God’s grace for you. STAND FIRM IN THIS GRACE. (emphasis added)
– 1Peter 5:12b NLT
Lisa Snyder in Montgomery,TX
Isaiah 41:10 NIV
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Amanda McFadden
Catlett VA
Psalm 19:4 (NKJV)
Their line goes out into all the earth,
Their words to the end of the world.
In them, He has set a tabernacle for the sun.
Pam Carr, Whiteoak MO The Lord is good to all; and his tender mercies are over all his works. Psalm 145:9 KJV
Chris Robertson from Fort Wayne, IN
From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
Mindy, Morgantown, IN
Lamentations 3:24 (NIV84)
I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.”
Lamentations 3:24
Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”. Isaiah 30:21 NIV
Cape May, NJ. Psalm 5:12. “For surely, O Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield”. NIV
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
John 3:16
Newhall.CA
to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (Ephesians 3:21 MEV)
Pamela, Mechanicsville, VA.
Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual
songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always
always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our
Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:19-20. NIV
Marie
Kinard, FL
Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love,
that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.
Psalm 90:14
Blue Springs, MO
“looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2 ESV
Angela, Winston-Salem, NC
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
James 1:2-4 NIV
Laura, Decatur, IL
Psalm 19:1 and 2 NKJV
The heavens declare the glory of God: and the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge.
Mary Rhodes
Hermantown MN
Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:5-6
NIV
For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! II Cor. 4:17 NLT
Donna Alsop, Bakersfield, CA
“Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church.” Colossians 1:24 (NIV)
Kimberly Waller, Moultrie, Georgia
I will bless them and the places surrounding my hill. I will send down showers in season; there will be showers of blessing. Ezekiel 34:26 (NIV)
Kaitlin Christensen Newberg, Oregon
Jeremiah 7:23. New King James Version (NKJV)
But this is what I commanded them, saying, ‘Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be My people. And walk in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well with you.’
Kelly, Glenwood MD– “Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen.He named it Ebenezer, saying, “THUS FAR HAS THE LORD HELPED US.”
1 Samuel 7:12 NIV
Joanne Verzi from Austin, TX: “Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil.” Proverbs 3:7 NIV
Leslie
Union, KY
Psalm 32:8
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.
(NIV)
Anna from Missouri
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another another in love.
Ephesians 4:2
Happy birthday! You are irreplaceable and I wish you the best. I have enjoyed all of your studies through the years and I look forward to many more to come.
Again, happiest of birthdays to you
Kirsten, El Paso, TX:
Romans 12:2 NIV
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Lisa P. Las Vegas, NV
Romans 12:2 (NASB)
2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
Jodi, Lubbock TX, So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the LORD your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.” Deuteronomy 31:6 NLT
Cassie Roth, Tunnel Hill, Ga
Proverbs 19:21 NIV
Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord ’s purpose that prevails.
Nanette, Saint Cloud, FL
“You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For you created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created.”
Revelation 4:11 NKJV
Angie Shockney Lafayette, IN
James1:5 NIV If any of you lack wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault and it will be given to him.
Barb Faasse, Jenison, MI “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. Isaiah 55:8 NIV